Bibliotheca Alexandrina Planetarium Science Center SUMMER 2015 | Year 8, Issue 3 IN THIS ISSUE...

Planetarium Dancing with Science Center 4 the Stars Light: Around the World in

5 The SUMMER 2015 a Solar Plane Source Year 8, Issue 3 The Hands that & Future 6 Cultural Outreach Sector Lit the World of Educational & Promotional NanoLight: World’s Most Publications Unit (COPU) 9 Efficient Light Bulb Life By: Maissa Azab Maissa Azab 10 Daylighting Our Lives Head of Unit On the most fundamental level universe, cure diseases, and even Light Combating Editorial Team 11 Viruses through photosynthesis, light is solve crimes. Shahenda Ayman necessary to the existence of life Even if we cannot see the Hend Fathy itself. It plays a vital role in our daily entire electromagnetic spectrum, Esraa Ali 12 Healing Light lives and is an imperative cross- visible and invisible light waves cutting discipline of science in the are a part of our everyday life. Lamia Ghoneim 14 Light: The Unspoken 21st century. It has revolutionized Photonics is everywhere; in Jailane Salem Language medicine, opened up international consumer electronics (barcode Basma Fawzy communication via the Internet, scanners, DVD players, remote Ahmed Khaled Communication at the and continues to be central to TV control), telecommunications 15 Speed of Light! linking cultural, economic, and (Internet), health (eye Design Team political aspects of the global surgery, medical instruments), Asma Haggag Up Their society. manufacturing industry ( 16 Own World When we think of light cutting and machining), defense Maha Sherin and energy, there are two and security (infrared camera, Faten Mahmoud approaches that come to mind. remote sensing), entertainment The World through 18 The latter is the use of powerful (holography, laser shows), and Publishing Department their Eyes to create fusion under more. Language Revision controlled conditions. The former All around the world, Art: is, of course, solar energy, scientists, engineers, and Contact Us: 20 which provides a practically- technicians perform cutting edge [email protected] The Offspring of Light inexhaustible resource that will research surrounding the field of SCIplanet The Prince of enhance sustainability, reduce Photonics, which opens a world 21 pollution, and lower the cost of of unknown and far-reaching Shadow and Light mitigating climate change. possibilities limited only by lack of Social media, low cost imagination. Exploring the Human 22 telephone calls, video conferencing We dedicate this issue to Civilization Enigma with family and friends; these are Light, the source and future of life. three examples of how the Internet Among the topics we approach allows people around the world to and the valuable contributions feel connected in a way that has of our regular collaborators, we never before been possible in history. tackle historical and modern For additional information All of this technology is because of aspects relating to artificial lighting, | WINTER 2014 and reservation, please contact: light thanks to optical fibers. how light helps cure diseases, the [email protected] Photonics is the science role of light in communication, | SUMMER 2015 of light. It is the technology of how special organisms produce Tel.: +(203) 4839999 generating, controlling, and their own light, and how different Ext.: 2350, 2351 detecting light waves and photons, organisms perceive light to see Fax: +(203) 4820464 which are particles of light. The the world around them. www.bibalex.org/psc characteristics of the waves and We hope our new issue lights photons can be used to explore the up your life!

2 Lightor Dark? By: Craig Dykers Founding Partner, Snøhetta

erhaps the study of light is the well-being and the relationship between and nourishes light in changing directions Pstudy of time. Each thing we see the body and mind. In a stoa, people move throughout the day. The Ryerson Early actually occurred a moment earlier. Light along the long axis, discussing theory or Learning Centre in Toronto captures the is not only an ephemeral condition, it is simply reviewing the day’s affairs. Walking shapes of clouds, sunlight interacts with physical. There is no good replacement from one end of the stoa to the other, multicolored floors and draws you in and for direct contact with the Sun. We have guests would flow, turn around and repeat out of the building by reflection. seen in recent years the increase of health the stroll. Each time a return trip was Human nature has changed little in problems related to some architectural made, the light and the dark sides of the millennia, and certain core aspects of design decisions that ignore this basic room in relation to the body would switch. what it is to be human will likely remain relationship between life and light. There was never a single relation to light for generations to come. Due to this, it is Everything in this complex relationship in these spaces. These types of spaces possible to explore the core aspects of with light is tied to our history and our became the foundation of the Academia light and how they affect us. In a sunny development as people. where Aristotle, Socrates and Plato built climate, it may be the tiniest shaft of light One of the earliest structures the philosophical agendas that most of through the trees or a tent cover that dedicated to knowledge, the forerunner the western world is founded on today. provides the paradigm for appreciating of our modern libraries, was the stoa. In One can imagine the great Alexandrian these relationships with the Sun. The ancient Greece, the stoa was a temple-like thinkers, Erastothenes or Hypatia walking vitality of light is so important to us that it structure, but was different in many ways. and thinking in such a way on a gentle cannot be ignored. It is wider than it is deep, and its axis of Alexandrian evening. movement is generally perpendicular to Physical movement combined with a the direction in which it is entered. Like a relationship to light promotes well-being porch, one wall of the stoa is colonnaded both physically and intellectually. We have and open to the exterior, unlike a portico at used this simple principle in many of our a temple that is meant primarily to frame a built designs. Such planning is however smaller doorway. The temple is dedicated generally invisible, or at least it does not | SUMMER 2015 to revering wisdom, the stoa is dedicated readily show itself in the way most people to creating wisdom. The Hellenistic stoa think, formally. was very likely the prototype for the Our oldest and our newest projects Ancient Library of Alexandria. are two libraries where this thinking is Several features of the stoa are embedded. The Library of Alexandria is relevant to the understanding of physical framed by a vast roof that holds, spreads

3 Scientists can tell whether there will be more solar wind or not by keeping track of the presence of sunspots. So, how does this solar wind act? It is basically a constant stream with varying intensity depending on the solar cycle; it can travel at a speed of 400 km/sec and can take around two to four days to reach Earth. The plasma, which is a key component, is made up of positively charged atoms and electrons that float around one another. Their high energy charge, along with the expansion of the magnetic field, allow them to escape the gravitational field of the Sun and set them By: Jailane Salem at the Sun’s core, a reaction where on route to us. hydrogen atoms merge to form helium Wow! So are we constantly being takes place, releasing a lot of energy and Elusive dancing lights in the sky, bombarded by solar wind? Yes, we are!

A COSMIC POINT OF VIEW light that radiates from the inner core of flickering across the navy–blue blanket How are we still intact if we stand in the Stars the Sun to its surface. way of such a strong force barreling that shrouds the world at nightfall. An The heated gas becomes plasma enchanting sight like no other; anyone towards us through space? Well, luckily that flows in huge eddies from the core would be awestruck at its magnificence. we have our own magnetic field that to the surface through convection. When It is none other than the sighting of the shields us from the brunt of the impact. the plasma gets heated from the core, Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis; Several billion tons of plasma have it rises to the surface in a continual these amazing natural light displays that come our way; however, all have been cycle; it becomes so hot that it becomes occur at the Earth’s Poles, the Arctic and deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field. electrically charged, creating powerful Antarctic, confounding people for a long This magnetic field that shields us is magnetic fields as it moves up and down time. invisible; it is created by the hot molten the convection currents. Since the Sun Many myths and legends were iron found at the center of our planet. spins on its axis the plasma also flows created across the ages to explain this The circulation of this liquid metal sideways, which in turn wounds the awe-inspiring phenomenon; however, creates electric currents that produce the magnetic field lines, which keep getting we have only lately come to a better magnetic field, which shoots out of the stronger until they eventually rise to the understanding of it. Nevertheless, center of the Earth, through the crust, and surface and penetrate it. This process although the cause of the Aurora is well into space, enveloping us and creating a happens at solar maximum. known now, we have yet to unlock all of protective shield. This is what is known You may be wondering now what solar its secrets. as the magnetosphere. maximum is? Well, the Sun follows an Our journey to unfold the mystery of However, a small amount of solar eleven-year solar cycle, where the solar the Northern Lights and Southern Lights wind does enter our atmosphere, causing activity varies from minimum activity to begins with our trusty friend, the Sun. the aurora phenomenon; the visible maximum activity, depending on its Auroras are in fact caused by solar winds, evidence of the solar winds’ presence. magnetic field. This is of great importance which are charged particles travelling So how does that occur? While most to us because, when the Sun is at solar from the Sun, coming into contact with particles bounce off our magnetosphere, maximum, Earth experiences more solar the Earth’s magnetic fields. Only when some manage to get through where the storms as more magnetic fields push and we follow the particles’ journey from its magnetosphere is weakest. These weak break through the surface, causing the inception to its contact with the Earth’s spots are present at the North Pole and eddies of hot gas to cool down, creating magnetic field, we understand how it all South Pole, where a sort of funnel exists, sunspots. takes place, so let our journey begin! allowing some of the particles of the solar Once the magnetic field has pushed You may have already started feeling wind to enter into our atmosphere, and its way out of the surface, the plasma warm, maybe a little too uncomfortably that is where the fun begins! keeps dragging it out until it reaches its warm. Do not worry; we will just have a When the electrons in the solar wind breaking point, and breaks off from the quick look at the Sun, then head back to make it through the magnetosphere, they Sun’s surface. This is what is called Earth soon enough! encounter the two main components of solar wind; it is several times bigger than The Sun is the closest star to our our atmosphere: oxygen and nitrogen. | SUMMER 2015 the size of the Earth. After a while, the planet; it provides us with heat and When these two elements collide with magnetic fields disperse, rearranging light. Basically, it is a hot ball of gas, the highly charged electrons from the themselves back into an orderly mostly hydrogen. As it is very hot, most Sun, their state is excited. In order to arrangement; this is when the Sun is at of the gases exist in the fourth state of calm down and return to their original its solar minimum. The solar wind that is matter, plasma. Deep inside, due to the energy level, they must let out the extra produced at times of solar minimum is high pressure and the incredibly high energy that built up, and they do so in the fairly light and slow; however, at times temperature of over 14 million degrees form of shooting out tiny packets of light of solar maximum, it is very strong. called photons. This is what we see in the 4 nighttime sky as the dancing curtains of light at the North Pole and South Pole. Auroras can be seen in a variety of colors, depending on where in the atmosphere the electrons interact with the oxygen and nitrogen. The most commonly seen color is glowing green; however, colors ranging from red to pink, blue to purple, in lighter and darker combinations have also been observed. The colors of the photons depend on the height where the collision between the oxygen and nitrogen and the incoming electrons takes place. Oxygen at lower altitudes gives off a different color than oxygen at higher altitudes. The yellow–green color that is most common of the aurora occurs at the lower altitudes in the atmosphere, between 100 km and 300 km; while in the upper atmosphere, above 300 km (ionosphere), oxygen collisions create a beautiful red aurora, which is a rare sight. AROUND THE WORLD Nitrogen can also produce red light, but when the collision occurs at around 100 km; it usually forms the rippled edges

of the aurora. Hydrogen and helium are in a also present in the ionosphere; these lighter gases produce beautiful blues and The aircraft has only one seat, so purples. However, they are not always the pilots will fly one after the other; they easily discernible to the naked eye and also have a sixty-people support team we sometimes need a good camera to helping them on their journey. They plan capture them. to complete a 35,000 km journey, with The auroras take place at all times; no fuel whatsoever on board. In order to however, during daytime we cannot see complete their tour in the specified time them because they are outshined by A plane that only uses solar energy to complete a tour around the world, that span, they will have to fly nonstop for sunlight. Clear skies are also needed some parts of the journey sometimes for for a proper sighting of the aurora since is Solar Impulse 2 mission; an amazing feat attempted by two pilots, Bertrand 5 or 6 days. clouds would hide the light display. There The plane can fly all day long, are many people who make it a point to Piccard and André Borschberg, who are passionate about making alternative because it has 17,000 solar cells built travel to watch these beautiful surreal into its wings, which can recharge their displays that take place in the vast skies. energy aviation options a reality. Their goal is to demonstrate that more lithium batteries and store energy to last To think that these displays are a it during the night. The plane has four result of all the activity that take place on environmentally-friendly options are not only available but also technologically electric motors that work with renewable the Sun, and that only a small amount energy; it is made of carbon fiber and the of the solar wind is able to venture into possible. By only relying on the Sun, this flight will not cause any polluting wings are super long, almost 72 meters. our atmosphere to leave us with such a In order to fly the aircraft the pilots beautiful display, is definitely a reminder emissions. In every city where the plane will have undergone extensive training, not of how vast and mysteriously beautiful only in the actual operation of the plane, our universe is. land during its journey, the pilots will try to show the public that new alternatives but also on how to survive in such a to fossil fuels and technologies are the limited space for days on end. References way to go for the future. They want to www.webexhibits.org References encourage people to re-think renewable www.cnbc.com www.sciencekids.co.nz energy and to explore those options www.solarimpulse.com http://alaska.gov/kids/learn/northernlights.htm www.hindustantimes.com http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SolarWind. more fully. shtml The around-the-world mission will last about five months, March–July 2015. The starting point was Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which is the hosting city, where the journey begins and ends. THE STORY BEHIND THE SCIENCE 6 | SUMMER 2015 f tcs oehr no baig oc that bundle blazing produced abrighterandlonger-lasting light. a a tying into together was sticks of torch portable developments the earliest of the of One beasts. of the nightandrelativesafetyfromits prowling darkness blinding the from freedom him , the which offered and torch flaming to when early Manusedthe back BCE 400,000 date artificial light sustainable attempts to produce The Dawnof Artificial Light eakbe vrapn o different of technologies acrosstimeandplace. overlapping remarkable hardly goes chronologically due to the world. The historyoflightingdevices taken forgrantedintoday’s high-tech been lighting woulddeveloptothelevels have how time that at would predict to impossible It artificial available. of light source only the became then flames fire daylight; of availability Man activities were totally dependent on the factor human ancient all fire, Before discovered accidently indispensable life. human to an become The veryearly Artificial light has undoubtedly has light Artificial The InnovationofCandles from different organisms. The Chinese developed candlesusingwaxextracted centuries, manyearlycivilizations Egyptians which datebackto400BCE. ancient introduced theearliestcandleholders, Moreover, beeswax. BCE, 3000 by they formedtruewickedcandlesmadeof ; true a considered fat. animal As ithadnowick,wasnot by soaking the pithy core of reeds in melted ancient Egyptians innovatedwasarushlightmade form first very The Egypt. ancient to affiliate attempts earliest the globe, the inmany places around independently combustible with filled materials soakedingreaseandignited. were non-flammable similar containers and Shells, rocks, containers. hollow suitable more finding as well brightly,as more shone and readily more burnt that materials of discovery the lamps and survived until around 5000 BCE. animal as known were These bark. fibrous oily animals to contain ignited wicks of and fish of bodies the using through lamps Evidence wasfoundthatinlater developed been have Although Advancements camegraduallywith Then, humanscameto develop primitive oil; andcastoroil. fish oil; nut East; the in mainly oil, sesame mainly usedaroundtheMediterranean; on naturaloilsasfuel,such , the rate of burning. They basically depended handles, andcarriedwicksthatcontrolled and designs;lampshadfeet curved torch washandedonfromrunnertorunner. refers totheOlympicraceinwhichalighted meaning “alight”,which from theGreek“lampas” word “lamp”derives then to know that the It comesasnosurprise by around500BCE. of candlesasweknow and usethemtoday the Romans are credited for the invention the of fruit the cinnamon tree.Itisworthmentioningthat boiling by made was wax from treenuts;whileinIndia, candle Japan, candlesweremadeofwaxextracted created candlesfrominsects and seeds;in as of the 7 place inancientGreece to primitive lamps took majorinnovations China, ancient Egyptand bronze—was Greek PotteryandOilLamps made ofpotteryor lamp—a typeoflamp The Greeksintroducednewmaterials Although the saucer th century BCE. found

in in By: HendFathy Although Athens remained the major manufacturer and exporter of high quality pottery lamps until the 4th century BCE, it was the Romans who took over from the Greeks as mass manufacturers of lamps. Pottery oil lamps were affordable, yet messy to handle, as the oil often oozed from the During the early 19th century, the The Rise of Incandescent Lamps wick hole; hence, Roman lamps with closed technology of gas lighting became popular Although Thomas Edison offered oil reservoirs came about 500 BCE. They in street and public places lighting. It is humanity the first practical commercialized consisted of bowls with wicks projecting mentioned that the first general use of version of the incandescent lamps, the basic through openings and a cover to keep gas street lighting took place in in technology is said to have been introduced the oil from being spilled or drunk by 1814; by 1823, nearly 40,000 lamps had by German inventor Heinrich Göbel in mice. been installed in 350 kilometers of London 1854. Göbel’s model was based on passing The streets. Gas lighting also became popular in an electric current through a carbonized Traditional oil lamps American theaters at that time. bamboo filament placed inside a glass bulb. remained predominant Various models appeared since that Electric Carbon Arc Lighting date and until the introduction of Edison’s for domestic uses until The first decade of the 19th century also the 18th century, when lamp twenty-five years later, the most witnessed the first demonstration of the remarkable of which was Joseph Swan in large-scale whaling was carbon arc lighting by Sir Humphrey Davy developed. It was found 1879. Although the problem of sustainable at the Royal Institution in London. At that electrical supplies was almost solved by that whale th time and until mid-19 century, batteries that time, other constraints persisted. Swan and spermaceti oil were the only source of electrical power. could produce a high- was aware of the problems of producing a Davy’s lamp used two charcoal sticks vacuum within a glass envelope, and thus quality fuel, which and a 2000-cell battery to create an arc unfortunately led to embarked on a collaboration with other across a100-millimeter gap. The sticks were scientists to produce a glass-blower. overfishing of whales. Whale oil was also separated by an insulator, used in manufacturing candles instead In 1880, Swan’s incandescent lamp which melted slowly, self- was reported in an issue of “Engineering”: of the expensive beeswax and the bad- feeding the two carbons. smelling candles. “Electric lighting by is just With the introduction of as simple as arc lighting is difficult, all In 1780, Aime Argand, Swiss physicist converting chemical energy and chemist, patented the Argand lamp, that is required is a material, which is not into electrical energy a very good conductor of electricity, highly one of the most common types of lamps using batteries, 1830s and that worked with whale oil. This lamp infusible, and which can be formed into a 1840s witnessed major wire or lamina, and is neither combustible presented an improvement in light output experimentations in arc up to a total of 10 candlepower. It utilized in air, or if combustible, does not undergo lighting. changes in a vacuum”. a tall cylindrical glass chimney that kept the Arc lamps were widely flame steady and improved the air flow. The The idea of the Swan Lamp depended used across Europe and USA on heating a silk filament until it reached Argand lamp remained among dominant th throughout the 19 century. incandescence while pumping air away lamps until the development of Gesner’s During 1840s, they were used lamp mid−19th century. from the lamp envelope. This procedure for public lighting in Paris; by eliminated the air, which previously caused The 1880, there were 90,000 of th lamp blackening. Sir William Armstrong’s In 9 century Baghdad, Persian scholar them burning at night in the industrial premises in Northumberland Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi mentioned USA. were the first to be lit by Swan’s lamps in the first description of the Kerosene lamp December 1880, with 45 lamps operating in his Book of Secrets. He referred to it as In 1826, a new technology of lighting by a water-powered dynamo. the “naffatah”; this prototype used “white was introduced by Thomas Drummond, On 31 December 1879 in New Jersey, napht”—or kerosene as we know it today— who observed that a piece of lime glowed Edison demonstrated his incandescent to produce energy. brilliantly when heated by an oxygen and lamp that used a cardboard filament Al-Razi used two different methods to hydrogen flame. Drummond described his distill the fuel from ; one using clay lighting technology as 83 times brighter and the other ammonium chloride as the than the Argand Lamp. absorbent. The lamp flame was surrounded Limelight came into use in theaters by a heavy glass layer that maintained it and by mid-19th century, where a lens was eliminated fire risks. placed in front A much later development of of a limelight to the Kerosene lamp came during th give a spotlight. the 19 century by Canadian This technology had physician and geologist, Abraham an exceptionally | SUMMER 2015 Gesner. Gesner distilled a clear long run in theater thin fluid from coal, which made lighting, and an excellent lamp fuel. He remained in use had his project industrialized in London theaters to make affordable Kerosene until about 1910. lamps in 1854.

7 installed in an evacuated glass bulb. The came very close to developing the modern demonstration involved 100 lamps; each in 1926. However, his rated at 16 candlepower and consumed lamp had a short life due to defects in about 100 watts, with an average lifespan the arc tube that corroded the electrodes of 100 hours. and destroyed the lamp. Also, the lamp The following year, Edison experimented produced an unpleasant greenish color due with over 6,000 specimens for producing to his phosphors, which did not help him the filaments, of which bamboo became persuade investors. commonly used; during the same year, It was not until 1934 that the first actual he received a patent for the T.A. Edison fluorescent lamp came to existence thanks Electric Lamp. Within another two years, to four American inventors: George Inman, there were over 300 electric power stations Richard Thayer, Eugene Lemmers, and around feeding over 70,000 lamps. Willard Roberts. Their lamp had real white Gas Discharge Lamps phosphors, and was stable and reliable; it is In 1894, American electrical engineer worth mentioning that their design remained and inventor Daniel Moore introduced the almost not changed for over 70 years. very first commercially viable model of gas discharge lamps, known as the “Moore The journey of artificial lighting does Tube”; a predecessor to both neon and not end here, of course; later decades fluorescent lighting. Moore’s model was had milliard of more glowing development points. Nowadways, there are much

THE STORY BEHIND SCIENCE based on evacuating phosphor-coated glass tubes and inserting low-pressure advanced forms of incandescent and gases into them, which glowed when a florescent lamps. We all know about lED current was passed through them. The and Halogen lamps, as well as many other less familiar names. However, we wanted gases Moore used were nitrogen and a new mark on lamp history by inventing the carbon dioxide, respectively emitting pink to shed light on earlier forms, and also negative glow . He created two- to ignite your enthusiasm with the latest and white light. electrode small bulbs, which allowed neon th innovation of the NanoLight. In early 20 century, French inventor to glow immediately around the electrodes. Georges Claude discovered how to create These lamps were used as indicator lights neon gas through liquefying air, which on many electronic devices, such as early he found glowed bright orange when an TVs until the 1960s, and are still in use as References electric current is passed through it. He decorative lighting devices until now. then embarked on creating a “Moore Tube” http://www.ies.org/lighting/history/ with neon gas and demonstrated modern Florescent Lamps www.college-optometrists.org in 1910. Fluorescent lamps are gas-discharge http://www.mts.net/~william5/history/ Claude’s invention did not find its way as lamps that employed a more sophisticated hol.htm an indoor lighting device, as homeowners technology. They used electricity to excite http://www.naturesgardencandles.com/ rejected neon lamps due to their color. mercury vapor in argon or neon gas, candlemaking-soap-supplies/item/ However, in 1912, they became popular as producing short-wave ultraviolet light that history/-history-of-candle-making.html advertising signs, as they were successful causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing http://candles.org/history/ eye catchers thanks to their glowing and visible light. http://academic.eb.com/EBchecked/ arresting red color. In 1915, Claude received American electrical engineer and topic/328821/lamp a patent for his invention, which became the inventor Peter Hewitt was the first to http://myhayah.com/?p=1353 basis for his company, Claude Neon Lights. demonstrate the mercury-vapor principle in https://cornellbiochem.wikispaces.com/ In the 1930s, a new range of neon lamps lamp design in 1901. However, his model Kerosene colors became available thanks to the emitted a blue−green light, and thus was http://www.edisontechcenter.org introduction of fluorescent power coating deemed unpractical. It was, however, very http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/ of neon and mercury discharge tubes. close to the modern design, and had much entry/Fluorescent_lamp However, in 1917, Moore returned to make higher efficiency than incandescent lamps. German inventor Edmund Germer | SUMMER 2015

8 tahd o pitd ici bad that board circuit printed a to are directly attached LEDs compact a NanoLight than fluorescent. energy less 50% uses it and incandescent standard a than efficient eliminating theneedforaheatsink. benefit for LEDs over CFLs) and completely standard (a instant-on include points bullet a is This lights. common goalforhouseholdlighting.Other LED other as bulb the of directions, asopposedtojustinthemiddle inall light to shine engineered specifically is it meaning omnidirectional; as billed also addressed the LED heat issues, and are fixes theefficiencydroopissue. apparently that design bulb a with up come a offer Tom Rodinger, andChristian Yan have to out solution, namely“NanoLight”.GimmyChu, are products sustainable Toronto whoshareanenthusiasmfor efficient lightbulb. istheworld’sclaim thattheNanoLight most low incredibly power-sipping rating of 12 W. In fact, they at operating while so does it equivalent to a 100 W incandescent lightbulb, not onlyoffers anoutputof1,600lumens, aoih cam t b 8% more 87% be to claims NanoLight NanoLight productsclaimtohave invention “breakthrough” trio’s The Three friendsfromtheUniversityof World’s MostEfficientLightBulb as theultimatelightingsource. lifespan, thetechnologyhasnotquiteliveduptoexpectations decade-long a and efficiency energy improved much as such compact fluorescents old-school incandescent NanoLight: the point to where it sometimes cancels out energy-efficient, much of less the purported and financialless benefits. be to it caused also have rooms living as spaces large brighten adequately can it where to output electrical bulb’s droop”. a increase “efficiency to efforts as Whereby to referred phenomenon a is out, pointed in cost-effective being the longrun—themostglaringissue,aslightingexpertshave up ends it argued long have proponents ones isoftencitedasahindranceforsomefolks—though While the high upfront cost of LED bulbs relative to traditional to relative bulbs LED of cost upfront high the While For yearsnow, LEDs (3) . Yet, despitesomeseriousadvantages, the heatissueswithinthisformat. testing hasshownthattheLEDswithstand with electricalcomponents. The product mounted and shape bulb-like a into folded necessary for the printed circuit board to be stereotypical design. the The funky geometric form is resemble abstract “funky” a in albeit shape, lightbulb to folded is rw cnrbto. h cmag was campaign immense backup from through thousands of backers. The ideas very successful, and the product received contribution. creative to crowd to funding aiming bring company crowd-funding global through a campaign with Kickstarter, a company’s goalisnothingshortofchanging The design. sustainable and “Nanoleaf”, efficiency its name the and hasgainedmuchpopularity dueto under sold being (2) (1) lightbulbs and the better option than option better the and lightbulbs have been heralded as the heir to heir the as heralded been have Currently onthemarket,NanoLight is NanoLight was originally launched over its25–30yearslifespan. the pricewillpayitselfinenergysavings the Companyassuresitscustomersthat Company’s the 20–40, USD of on range price a With website. model now available dimmable also is A and regions. AC geographic 120V in different to cater to versions AC 220–240V available are three models These Lumens). 12-W (1800+ a NanoLight and equivalent), (75-W Nanoleaf addition tothe12-WNanoleaf,a10-W brighter future”. economical, sothatourplanetcanhavea and innovative is that lighting LED efficient level, ourpurposeistocreateenergy- statement “Atthemostfundamental footprints, products”, theCompanysaysinitsmission carbon and creatingecologicalvalueinallofour reducing efficiency, the NanoLightoncreatinghigherenergy the world—onelightbulbatatime. http://mashable.com/2013/02/24/nanolight/ http://shop.nanoleaf.me/ www.gizmag.com www.zdnet.com References (2) (1) Glossary (3) Incandescent Nanoleaf comes in three models, in “We center every aspect of our work at opc Furset ap (CFL)isa Lamp Fluorescent Compact for useinlightingfixtures. lightbulb a or lamp a into assembled is that LED is a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) product ballast inthebaseoflamp. ballast is which an tube of incandescent bulb, and space a compact the electronic into a fit to for incandescent folded use or curved lamps The used lamps. formerly fixtures an toreplace light into fit types some lamp; incandescent designed lamp fluorescent gas orevacuated. inert with filled is that bulb quartz or glass a with oxidation from protected is filament hot current passingthroughituntilglows. The filament electric an wire by temperature high a a to heated with light produces which By: LamiaGhoneim lightbulb isanelectriclight, 9 | SUMMER 2015 ZOOM TECH SCIENCE IN OUR LIFE 10 | SUMMER 2015 om cn eoe o bih ta i can it that to discomfort. lead This iswhy there are bright too become can rooms space is great, it can cause and productivity. addition toimprovingpeople’s comfortand daylight canreducethisenergydemand,in In lighting energy consumption; strategic use of electric electrical energy-efficient. total the of 35–50% for accounts buildings, and commercial more buildings making sustainable light, artificial on potential, itcanreducethedependence and ifnaturallightisusedtoitsmaximum provide good illumination during the day, within abuilding. admission ofnaturallightintothespace controlled appropriate the nowadays—is architects by find to we need.Daylighting—amethodapplied trying solutions toprovideuswiththenaturallight been have more timecoopedupinside,architects to would allowthemenoughnaturallight. planners urban that buildings for plots appropriate allocate from attention close people’s wellbeing. This, of course, requires in additiontothenegativeeffect ithason bills, bigger with up end people electricity, have to turn on electric lights. By using more with relying duringthedayonnaturallight,they peek-a-boo of game those who live in these buildings; instead of short Sun a the plays together, tall crowded where are areas, buildings many In difficult. more and more becoming is light natural enough getting heights, building of rise increasing lifetensions.However,daily withthe H Though gettingsunlightintoone’s This designtechniqueisimportantto While peopleareincreasinglyspending sanctuary that allows us to escape omes are our safety fort, the of nature. only lets natural light in, but also has a view to recoverinaroomwithwindowthatnot better is it as patients, for beneficial greatly the daylight effect inhospitalsindicatesthatitis on conducted been has that research found A wellbeing. our have to key is light researchers natural that because so do appealing space,theyhavereasonto that usedaylighttocreateavisually interior. from overcastskiescanalsolightupan theinterior,to illuminate sincediffuse light not do They always have to depend on direct sunlight insulation. better protection, as added well as for layers double from a crucialspot,theyareusuallymade in placed are they Since building. the enter to or diffusing materialthatallowsnaturallight in theroofandareoftenmadefromaclear skylights. You guessed it; these are installed when installedonwallsfacingtheSun. or various materials;theyaremosteffective inside installed from made be can and building be the outside can shelves Light and shadingwindowsfromexcessiveglare. penetration, and distribution light better for space the into upward light bouncing jobs: light installing shelves, which perform two temperature. that avoidsunwantedglareandincreasein maximum sunlightinacontrolledmanner certain systemsdesignedtoharvestthe OUR LIVES OUR While architects try to create designs Another daylightingdesignistheuseof One waytoavoidglareisthrough buildings/redirecting-light http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/ why-daylighting/ http://lightlouver.com/lightlouver-description/ daylight-buildings-reduce-energy-use thorpe/1028301/we-must-maximize-use- http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/david- References that inmindwhiledesigningbuildings. bear to architects for important is it why is that well-being; of feeling a promote helps natural lightincreasesproductivityand classroom. that reportedincreaseddaylightinthe those 10%—and of scores—upwards test schools that reported improvements in student between correlation high a found Company, Electric and Gas Pacific the by and HumanPerformance”,commissioned Daylighting between entitled Relationship the study into 1999 a outcome “Daylighting inSchools: An Investigation found; student been and has between connection daylighting A education better well. and as schools facilities in but hospitals, lessens theperiodneededforpainrelief. also the average length of a hospital stay, Daylighting and wall. brick inpost-operativerecovery,helps reducing a was and view faster 8.5% took feweranalgesicsthanthosewhose recovered trees facing that surgerypatientsinroomswithwindows okn i a pc ta i wl-i by well-lit is that space a in Working Not only is daylighting important in reported 1984 in published article An By: JailaneSalem with, such as Ebola or Hepatitis C. These C. Hepatitis or Ebola as such with, thatour viruses immune systemhasahardtime dealing however, are, There flu. against us viruses, suchaswiththecommon coldor defending in job good pretty a quite toughtokillthem. is it body the enter they once as infections infected these things, we are not fully protected from do being we if even from However, viruses. by bodies our prevent of theseareprecautionsthatwetaketo sneezing, hands or eatingfoodwithoutwashingthem;all bare our with while eyes our rubbing careful not being regularly, aggressive nature. protective mechanismsagainsttheir do is tocoexistwiththem,developingcertain can we best The them. by surrounded Light In mostcases,ourimmunesystemdoes Washing ourhands,usingsanitizers are we yet, viruses; likes Nobody VIRUSES COMBATING covers a wide area. It starts off with weak sprayer weusetowaterourplants that intensity, whileordinarylightislike the concentrated in one place with ahigher itself apart. energy intothelaser, theviruscouldshake violently vibrates enough to shatter; similarly, it by putting more frequency, particular increase thelaservolumeonaglassat treatment thought ofthecase where when we illness, biologists and physicists of team combined viral a options are extremely limited. As a result, a for available healthy tissueintact?Ifavaccineisnot tissue, andonlykilltheviruses,leaving by time. killed be can they light, visible to exposed be might it so surprising that,whensomevirusesare deadly, very be can types Laser islikeahosepouringoutwater infected on light a shine to possible it Is By: Ahmed Khaled By: Ahmed a fgt hns e huh cud onlybe deadly. could we thought things fight can day with discoveries and achievements, we every us amaze that research unstoppable as well? Thanks tonewtechnologiesand it save can but life, sustains only not light, of intensifyingcertainfunctionscellparts. means by restructuring with helps it where its performanceisuniversalforallorgans, The laserworksonthetissueleveland organs. our of all to vessels blood through circulates it as body our in place takes that that blood is a kind of reporter of everything microcirculation, takingintoconsideration of activation the is triggers irradiation blood the and blood with HIV/AIDS. both on immunity systeminmostcasesdiagnosed laser of effect improvement; thisindicatesthepositive immunity the as of well as proven, was normalization blood The application. first the have shownsomeimprovementafter patients and blood human irradiated have therapy inHIV/AIDStreatment;researchers bacteria, viruses,andinfections. this waytheresistanceoflivetissuesto blood of conditions andimmunity, works increasing normalization which of principle blood, the on the of therapy laser most well-knowntypeisthesemiconductor the blood without killing the which healthy tissues. The in world, laser impulses can kill viruses contained in the in studied being particular a at vibrate frequency. or resonate, glass crystal It will fine a vibrate. way the to to it identical is cause will that frequency molecularstructureandaunique unique using theUSP laseraseveryvirushasa viruses kill to used be could that technique femtosecond long.Forcedresonanceisa releases energyinpulsesjustone levels. more ever and withahigherconcentrationofenergy become waves concentrated, makingalllightrayscoherent light the so light andkeepsaddingmoreenergy, cellular-microscopic/light-virus.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/ Reference Could anyonehaveever fathomed that laser low-level things first the of One A study shows the effectiveness of laser Many moretechnologiesarecurrently laser (USP) Pulse Ultra-Short The 11 | SUMMER 2015 SCIENCE & ME By: Lamia Ghoneim SCIENCE & ME

In the beginning, the Sun was also warned that sunlight damages our systemic medications that can have a worshipped by many ancient civilizations; skin, causing wrinkles and premature negative effect on the body. presumably for its perceived power and aging. Chronic skin conditions such as strength, but also for its healing properties. Nevertheless, in more recent years, psoriasis(2) can be life debilitating Many ancient cultures practiced various many studies have emerged to challenge for many patients. Aside from being forms of healing with light, including the the anti-Sun dogma of the dermatology unsightly, and thus disparaging to a people of Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, world. While the dangers still exist, the person’s self-esteem, they also often and . benefits of a sensible amount of sunlight cause inflammation, itchiness, and pain. Heliotherapy—using sunlight for might just turn out to outweigh the risk. Exposing the affected areas to sunlight healing—dates back to Hippocrates, who Not only can sunlight help heal certain has been known to help in the treatment was a great advocate of the Sun’s healing diseases, but a growing body of evidence of these diseases, but it is difficult to properties. Indian medical literature, now suggests that getting adequate Sun monitor the improvement as it occurs dating back to 1500 BCE, describes a and adequate amounts of vitamin D outside the doctor’s office. treatment combining herbs with natural (the sunshine vitamin) not only protect In office phototherapy treatments sunlight to treat non-pigmented skin us against the risk of osteoporosis and using artificial UV sources are gaining areas. Buddhist literature from about depression that people have known for more popularity as they have been 200 CE, as well as 10th-century Chinese some time, but also against colon cancer, proven successful in treating many skin documents, make similar references. breast cancer, heart disease, rheumatoid conditions; including psoriasis, eczema(3), With the demise of ancient cultures, arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and vitiligo(4), and scleroderma(5). not only did the worship of the Sun a host of other awful maladies. Since many of these diseases are diminish, but also the knowledge of its Widespread advice to avoid direct caused by an autoimmune response, UV healing powers. As a result, since the Sun exposure is now heavily under light therapy works through reducing the Middle Ages and up to the beginning question; more and more doctors and inflammatory response of the immune of the 20th century, people turned away patients are turning towards new, and system, by penetrating the skin and from the Sun, preferring pale skin, which old, light therapy methods to treat a wide slowing down cell production that causes they viewed as a sign of wealth, over the variety of ailments. lesions in diseases such as psoriasis and darker skin associated with hard working eczema, directly reducing itch, and by labor. Light Therapy for Skin re-pigmenting areas of the skin that lost | SUMMER 2015 In modern times, instead of Sun Conditions pigmentation in the case of vitiligo. worship, scientists have gone completely While different wavelengths work for Two forms of phototherapy exist: the other way, issuing warnings about different conditions, treatment is most non-targeted phototherapy and the dangers of exposure to the Sun. often done with narrow band Ultraviolet B targeted phototherapy, in which light is Dermatologists warned that, by going radiation (UVB), which is the safest administered to a specific, localized area outside and spending too much time and most successful wavelength. of the skin. Current targeted phototherapy in the Sun, we risk melanoma—the Phototherapy eliminates the need of is administered via excimer laser, deadliest version of skin cancer. They using corticosteroids(1) ointments or other elemental gas lamp, or via LED light; it is 1212 though therearevariations. A unitof light usuallymimicsnatural sunlight the light; strong emits which lightbox, a improve. who suffer from sleep disorders generally By adjusting this cardiac rhythm, patients a makes person feeltiredwhenitisdarkoutside. it processes; behavioral and that regulates biochemical, physiological, The circadianrhythmisa24-hourcycle rhythm. circadian its maintain body the help can light bright to drowsy,exposure produced atnightthatmakesyoufeel production ofmelatonin,ahormone bright sunlight,regardlessoftheseason. was directlyrelatedtothedurationof brain the in production serotonin of rate of seasons,asresearchshowedthatthe of depressionnotassociatedwithchange including sleep disorders and other types successful intreatingotherconditions, the alleviating symptoms ofSAD. in effective dayis a remarkably minutes 30–60 for fixture light intensity high a or light bright Sun’s the to Exposure gain. weight and problems, sleep craving, carbohydrate depression, irritability, fatigue, from suffer frequently colder duringwinter, peoplewithSAD been supportedbydozensofstudies. has (SAD), Disorder Affective Seasonal treating winter depression, also known as in efficacy Its now. decades two over for been has other used asatreatmentforwinterdepression light any than Bright absorb antidepressant. to easier and safer,abundant, more exact—is more be sense ofwell-being. relieves stressandproducesageneral antidepressantmedications;it known well- by boosted is that neurotransmitter on darker days. Serotonin is the same chemical “serotonin”onsunnydaysthan produces moreofthemood-lifting be to decades. two past come the in scientifically has understood instinctively known the when Sun comesout.Whatmostpeoplehave better feels everyone not, or Depression for Light Therapy risks. health thus sparing healthy skin from UV rays body, entire the not skin, affected the to administered in a officedoctor’s and only The patientsitsnearamachinecalled body’s the off shuts sunlight Since More recently, light therapy was found As thedaysgetshorter, cloudier, and to light, bright sunlight—or However, brain the that shown have Studies Whether wesuffer fromdepression n snun bt hy r generally are they but sunburn, and effects tothetherapy, includingheadache non-invasive, therearesomeside and having cytoprotectiveeffects onthem. muscles, and brain the as such organs it effects; also improvesthefunctionofhealthy analgesic anti- and good inflammatory very has It cortex. and cerebral cord spinal nerves, bone, muscle, regenerative effects fortheskin,tendon, tissue has LLLT that studies laboratory below theskinat90mwand830nm. cm 2–5 penetrate to ability the has light tissue orfatundertheskin. This dermis, epidermis, and the subcutaneous laser passthroughtheskinslayers; photons oflightthatareemittedfromthe dose provided bythecoldlaserunit. the and treated being area the of several minutes,dependingonthesize over theinjuredareafor30secondsto directly isplaced laser The . a of size the often are and clinician the by Cold lasers are handheld devices used watts, burning the tissues they encounter. lasers used in surgery typically use 300 devices do not produce heat; in contrast, nanometers 600–1000 a and5–500milliwattspower.wavelength with laser near-infrared or red-beam a of use the to therapeutic andalleviatingpain.LLLThealing refers with inacceleratingwound applications approach scientific attention inrecentyearsasanew gained has (LLLT), Therapy Light Level the pain. rather thanactuallyhealingthesourceof pain, theyonlyhelpmaskthesymptoms some temporary relief from the feeling of signal that it is hurt. While painkillers offer to body the to sends brain the message Wound Healing for Pain and Light Therapy and 10,000lux. lux 2,500 between is lightbox a of output of lightusedinatreatment;thestandard measure called a lux gauges the amount While light therapy is considered safe It has been shown in clinical trials and During thistime, the non-thermal these lasers, cold dubbed Often Phototherapy, particularlyLow When thereisaninjury, painisthe sessions. by with adjusting thedurationandintensityof dealt be can Most serious. not internal organs. (derma). In themoresevereform,italsoaffects skin the of (sclero) by hardening characterized disease autoimmune systemic sclerosis,isachronic Scleroderma, also known as (5) to unable function. are or die cells pigment skin skin the of losing their pigment; it occurs when portions by characterized Vitiligo isachronicskindisease (4) become inflamedorirritated. medical conditionsthatcausetheskinto Eczemaisatermforgroupof (3) and plaques,which papules, usually itch. lesions includingred,scalypatches, skin by characterized disease systemic relapsing/remitting, immune-mediated Psoriasisisacommon,chronic, protein (2) behavior. metabolism, and levels, electrolyte blood catabolism, carbohydrate response, and regulation of inflammation, including stressresponse,immune range ofphysiologicalprocesses, chemicals thatareinvolvedinawide Corticosteroidsareaclassof (1) Glossary phototherapy/ http://nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/ www.womenshealthmag.com www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov www.livestrong.com www.healthline.com www.webmd.com www.osa.org References

13 | SUMMER 2015 By: Basma Fawzy

The Unspoken Language

DISCOVER LIFE The early rays of the Sun that mark the beginning of a day, the stars that guide travelers to the North, the burning fires of ancient …all unspoken messages of light, changing the way we communicate. Since ancient times, light has always been used as a guide for wandering ships. Whether in the form of wood fire, , or oil lamps, lighthouses stood by the seaside, proudly fulfilling their role by helping ships reach their destination safely. The signal of a is clear; it is either take heed or simply you arrived safely. That was just the beginning of communication through light.

With the invention of telegraph, One of the famous forms of the “starboard side”. The lights of the developing a coding system became transferring information through light port side are red, and on the starboard a necessity; the purpose of the coding is signal lamps, known as Aldis lamps. side are green; thanks to these lights, system was to translate language into Those lamps are named after their you can easily tell which way a ship is pulses that will be sent through wires. inventor, and sometimes use Morse heading. In 1838, Samuel Morse, an American code; they are mainly used on naval Communication by light is not painter and inventor, created the Morse vessels and airport control towers. restricted to human beings only; code; signals that transform into electric Nowadays, they are used in airports other creatures also use light to pulses, which move through a wire. just as backup devices, and they do not communicate. Unlike human beings, Those pulses can deflect a magnet transfer complex messages; just basic they have not invented anything; which subsequently moves a marker that messages like stop or land. however, they are gifted with powers to produces written codes. Officially, Morse code is no longer in produce and emit light. The process of Morse transformed the alphabetical use, whether in its written form (dots and producing and emitting light is known letters to codes consisting of dots and dashes) or the flashes of light (signals), as bioluminescence; it is used to find dashes; the most famous of these codes is but it has been replaced by advanced mates, for defense, for communication, SOS, the distress signal. The Morse code and faster ways of communication. and for camouflage. Some types of was not limited to transmitting signals Since Ancient Times, light was used fish produce light to lure other types to through electric pulses; it developed from for communication; is an attack. just dots and dashes into many other example of how light is used for that References signals like sounds and flashes of light purpose. Red light means stop, green www.omniglot.com such as turning on and off a source of light means go, and yellow light means www.britannica.com light to send pieces of information. caution. As light plays an important role www.universetoday.com Light was used in the past to guide and helps in organizing traffic, it is also www.todayifoundout.com ships, and through the use of the Morse important at sea. All ships abide by the www.brighthubengineering.com http://ns1763.ca/tele/morse01.html code it was also used to send different rules of the International Regulations

| SUMMER 2015 http://inventors.about.com/od/ signals of help or guidance. Optical for Preventing Collisions at Sea. tstartinventions/a/telegraph.htm communication is a way of carrying The lights on a ship do not just http://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/polaris- information through light. This way of indicate its size; they also show its the-present-day-north-star transferring information is very useful direction. Lights on any ship are not especially to ships at sea when no other haphazard; the left side is called the form of communication is available. “port side”, while the right side is called

14 the telephone,tothisnewclaimant was favor, whichwassoreadilyextendedto he but invention. His plea for extending scientific telephone, referred to the photophone as his greatest conventional the invention ofthephotophone,heinvented such asclouds. transmissions from outside interferences, to able 2,000 meters, but was not able to protect was device transmit avoicesignaloverdistanceof The projection. back mirror, transformed into soundatthereceivingendof the were into vibrations the sunlight voice directing the mirror. the By in in vibrations vibrations similar caused the mirror; a voice throughaninstrumenttoward while thetelephonereliedonelectricity. a meansofprojectingtheinformation, the telephone;exceptfor using light as light. of beam The photophonefunctionedsimilarlyto a on sound reproduces briefly photophone as anapparatusthatproducesand the described Bell the alternatenameradiophone. given jointly inventedthephotophone,later his assistant Charles Sumner Tainter as thespeedoflight! something more, even easier, and faster realized that communication could mean the emergence of the Internet, people with on, Later television. cable for other networks: onefortelephonesandthe with twodifferent wirecommunication country thus became connected together telephone or watching television. A was restrictedtochattingoverthe past century, thenotionofcommunication

at the or er erir eoe Bell’s before earlier years Four The photophone worked by projecting and Bell Graham Alexander 1880, In During the first half of the nineties of the By: Esraa Ali By:

“The day will come when the man at the telephone will be able to see the distant person to whom he is speaking” ~

Speed of Light ignored throughout the 19 the throughout ignored lasers and boosters, the more expensive more the boosters, and lasers the of speed the higher The flicker. can at speed boosters signal the and the lasers the which on rather but strand, the does not depend on the thickness of second. The speedofdatatransmission at information data rates exceeding several gigabits per transporting of capable the transmissioncapabilityoffiber. and moisture physical damage, and does not govern from damage from that fiber material the or surrounds the core to protect the optical coating, buffer a material surrounding the core; and the layer of glass or other transparent or cladding, a light; carries that fiber the main parts: a core, or the central part of one endtotheother. by carried light signals, over long distances, from data transmit cables—that optical as bundles—known in arranged are fibers hair.These human of strand a as diameter in thickness same the about made ofsilicaorplastic,andmeasure fibers transparent and flexible are optics, communication. is anidealmaterialforlong-rangeoptical discovered that silica glass of high purity his research efforts, Kao and his team unsuitable be as a conductor of information. Through to believed widely were fibers glass 1960s. work, pioneering the his Before in Optics”, Fiber of “Father belongs to Charles K. Kao, also known as the medium telecommunication a years many fully recognized. was that before the significance of Bell’s work was but invention, photophone wasanextremelyimportant Today, modern optical fibers are fibers optical modern Today, of three consists fiber optical Each asfiber known also fibers, Optical as fibers optical of discovery The

Alexander Graham Bell (c. 1906) th century. The References before never has been possibleinhistory. that way a reached interact, andcommunicationmeanshave fibers has revolutionized the way humans pwru rlal lgt source, for medium light years away. Nowadays,inthe low-cost reliable reliable transmission, werealmostahundred a powerful and a requirements forcommercialsuccess, as it is practiced today. The two basic principle of optical communications not theexperiment.” unsuccessful, is that man the is it there, get theresultsanticipatedandstopright experiment containsalesson.Ifwedonot no unsuccessfulexperiments;every modern communication. the world,andsomanyotherformsof with familyandfriendsscatteredaround calls, texting,andvideo-conferencing use of social media, low cost telephone the for people around the world; for example, turned fiber of Internet intoameansofcommunication capacity high The inthewaypeoplecommunicate. changes economics. as well as engineering by determined is they are;asaresult,thespeedoflines pstartinventions/a/photophone.htm http://inventors.about.com/od/ bb962026.aspx https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ http://daveyalba.com/fiber-optics/ www.light2015.org 2002. No. 45,NLP IP Company, D.C.,November Light Technology”,of James H.Johnston,“InternetwiththeSpeed 21 st els htpoe eosrtd the demonstrated photophone Bell’s are there researches, scientific “In fundamental brought capacity Fiber’s century, theuseoflightinoptical ~ Alexander GrahamBell Legal Times, Vol. XXV,

15 | SUMMER 2015 SCIENCE & NATURE 16 | SUMMER 2015 within their bodies; the process neither needs nor gives off heat, and hence, the hence, and outcome isknownas“coldlight”. heat, off gives nor needs neither process the occurs bodies; that their reaction within chemical a is it creatures, bioluminescent in However, light. emit to it causes filament the in heat of increase the filament; the through passes that current electrical an by generated usually is bulbs light from emitted light The are that eyes have built to help them creatures see at night, while others have the some ability to create their own light. falls, night when see us help to light artificial this Earthwithcan!Whilewecannotseeinthedark,andthereforerelyheavilyon cutswehavetositthroughnowadays. power many the given especially great, be not that Would light? emit can that body your of part a have in up? As light to ability the have could you if what example, For if? for us humans; not that we do not have great attributes, but we always wonder what question hypothetical a remain always might That be?” it would power,what super light throughachemical reactionknown Glow?How DoThey and thebetterknownfireflies. are insects, such as centipedes, millipedes, life formslookasthreatening;manyofthem easy lunch! However, not all bioluminescent reach ofitshumongousmouth,makingforan its inhabits dorsal fin, allowing it to that lure prey within easy bacteria bioluminescent protrudes aboveitsmouth. that fin dorsal lit-up the by lured anglerfish, scene where DoryandNemo’s dadencounteran the remember well very might you have watchedthemovieFindingNemo, ranging from deep seas to land. If you different environmentsacrosstheEarth, The fascinating ability to create one’s own light is known as bioluminescence. as known is light own one’s create to ability fascinating The Even thoughhumanscannotphysicallylightup,othercreaturesthatweshare At one point or another, we all entertain the question: “If you couldhaveone The anglerfish can glow thanks to thanks glow can anglerfish The in live organisms Bioluminescent ilmnset raim produce organisms Bioluminescent process, and use their ability to light up light to ability their use and process, Different species use variations of this what is releases theenergyinform oflight. reaction the by created is that as oxygen; the high energy molecule such place, take to order in substances reaction. luciferase helpsinspeedingupthe that produces light,whilethecatalyst ion in order to activate the reaction is aphotoproteinthatneedscharged on theroleofthesetwo. The luciferin the reaction; different chemicals can take luciferase istheenzymethatcatalyzes whereas substance, light-producing the a luciferinandluciferase.Luciferinis substances: of types two between place as ,whichtakes The reactionusuallyneedsother undiscovered byresearchers. undiscovered while somelightupforreasons asyet some actually use it to lure their prey, warning topredatorsthattheyaretoxic; that allows them to escape, or as a mates; othersasadefensivemechanism possible attract to it use some reasons: actually lightup? There are many organisms some do why but possess, to LightUp? DoThey Why as foxfire. decaying wood, creating what is known on some species offungithatgrowon like lights flash and off; othershaveaconstantglow, can organisms some can emitawidervarietyofcolors.While red, orvioletcolors. spectrum; theycannotprocessyellow, light visible the of part blue–green the in bioluminescent result, sea organismsusuallyemitlightthatis a As distance. energy topenetratethewateratalonger reach andthereforehavemore wavelengths sunlight of that depth,sincetheyaretheshorter wavelengths blue In deepseawaters,onlygreenand the of nature the chemical reactionthattakesplace. and habitat their to species emitvarygreatlyaccording Bioluminescent Light? Kindsof Different There Are brain processes accordingly. and chemistry their regulating by vn huh t s wnefl ability wonderful a is it though Even Land organisms, on the other hand, Yes, there are. The lights that different By: JailaneSalem What Are They? However, some deep sea squids lack therefore becoming invisible to predators this feature of having ink sacs; instead, looking up. some squids such as the vampire squid While the hatchetfish uses counter- can eject bioluminescent mucus. illumination to seem invisible, the cookie- This cloud of bioluminescent mucus is cutter shark has a slightly different ejected from the tips of its arms when it approach. It too can emit light from its senses danger; this in effect startles the underside to blend in with the light at predator, allowing the squid to escape the surface of the sea. However, it has unscathed. The vampire squid also a small part of its underside that does has photophores covering most of its not light up, causing those looking up Let us have a look at some of these body, which allows it to basically light up to see a small silhouette. Lured by the wonderful bioluminescent creatures, whenever it wants; this helps it attract its promise of an easy catch, they approach starting off with the wonderful firefly, prey, and swim undetected in the deep the shark, which then launches its attack. which adds a certain mystical touch to dark sea when it is off. This trickery allows the cookie-cutter wherever it is found. Male fireflies are shark to prey on much bigger fish than the ones that usually flash on and off to itself. attract mates; they have various lighting signals and patterns to communicate How wonderful it would be to acquire their type and that they are looking for such a fabulously practical and beneficial a mate. While not all adult fireflies can trait. That is why many researchers are glow, they can all glow as larvae in order still studying this trait in organisms and to fend off predators and warn them that some are even working on adapting the they are toxic. process of bioluminescence in order to Another bioluminescent organism that create light that is as energy efficient can be found growing on rotting trees is Some marine animals have the as that produced by these animals and fungi. Not all fungi is bioluminescent but amazing ability of detaching parts of organisms. With so many advancements some are, and can emit green and blue their body to help them escape from in energy studies and technologies, and light that is visible in the dark. Some their predators. Some species of brittle with a desperately growing need for speculations as to why this occurs is that stars and sea cucumbers can detach energy efficiency, let us all hope to be the light attracts insects that then help body parts that are bioluminescent to able soon to bioluminate! distribute the spores of the fungi to other trick their predators into going after the areas, allowing it to increase its colonies. glowing limbs while they escape to a References Bioluminescent plankton, on the safer place. Sea cucumbers can detach http://www.livescience.com/19318- other hand, lights up when disturbed, a bioluminescent body part on a passing bioluminescent-light-organisms.html http://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal- which causes a phenomenon known fish, which causes their predator to follow facts/bioluminescence1.htm as the milky sea, creating a beautifully the fish instead of the sea cucumber; a http://docmo.hubpages.com/hub/Animals- eerie sight. The plankton can light up great act of subterfuge. Many species of that-Glow-The-Science-of-Bioluminescence due to waves made by passing ships, the brittle stars, on the other hand, are http://education.nationalgeographic. com/education/encyclopedia/ or disturbances caused by water-borne bioluminescent and even though they bioluminescence/?ar_a=1 objects. They can sometimes be so sometimes detach their arms they can strong that they can show up in satellite re-grow them. images of seas and oceans. Moreover, Some fish use their bioluminescent they have been known to interfere with light in order to camouflage themselves marine navigation systems in some and hide in plain sight; this is known as cases. counter-illumination, and is used when fish are swimming near the surface. Near the surface, there is more light around, so fish swimming there tend to have a silhouette that is visible at greater depth. So, how do fish use bioluminescence to camouflage themselves near the

surface? One example is that of the | SUMMER 2015 hatchetfish, which has a bioluminescent underside; by emitting light pointing We all know that squids can eject dark downwards, mimicking the same light ink in order to envelop their predators in its vicinity, its outline is no longer in the dark, allowing them to escape. distinguishable from the surroundings,

17 SCIENCE & NATURE 18 | SUMMER 2015 h hv rdgen color red−green have blindness. According to Dan- who have visionsimilarto humans shades of color. Many of them Cats andDogs the sameplane. waves thatareoscillatingin polarized light, meaning light whilesomecandetect light, ultraviolet see to them enables of photoreceptors,which Others, however, havefourtypes colorblind. partially which rendersthem two typesofphotoreceptors, on theotherhand,haveonly in thedark.Someanimals, of light; this allows us to see rods detect small amounts type ofphotoreceptorscalled red, green, and blue. A different cells, whicharesensitiveto photoreceptors knownascone our eyeshavethreetypesof hs s eas te have they because is This with sensitivitytomovements. night, at better is but daylight, in ours than blurrier times six is vision cats book; Animal Eyes Sweden; andcoauthorofthe at the University of Lund, Zoology of Professor Nilsson, world? attack them. or any otherthingthatmight identifypredators animals helps also colors see to ability attractive toeachother. The and fruit colors can make animals more red unripe greenfruit.Moreover, ripe between landanimalsdifferentiatehelps instance, good color vision food onlandorinwater;for find animals helps vision color ln; hy ny e vr pale very see only they blind; how theireyesprocesslight. the surroundings depends on creatures’ visualperceptionof do, then you are wrong. Living we way same the objects see If So, how do animals see the Scientists assertthatgood Humans aretrichromats; Cats anddogsarecolor -creatures onthisplanet -you think that all ON LAND Eric EYES THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR lhuh oss ae better have horses Although them togetherlikeahuman. images andcannotmerge a horsewillalwaysseetwo is, that vision; binocular lack in front oftheirnoses,theyalso directly spot blind a have possible. However, these animals when escape and helps themavoidpredators peripheral vision; this also to givethemoutstanding eyes are pointing sideways Horses at night. hunt to them enables ability more rods than humans; this By: Shahenda Ayman ie ers horses zebras, Like Rattlesnakes grey. sight ismostlyinshadesof horse’s a but blue, and green poor; theycandistinguish their colorvisionisrather night visionthanhumans, called pitorgans. they because have special sensory tools objects them warm around from signals They pickupinfraredheat very goodcolorvisionatnight. but movement, on dependent daylight and theirvisionisvery resolution colorvision during Rattlesnakes havelow Bees Birds everything lookblurry. resolution vision that makes result, they have extremely low- bee’s the in eyes producesonepixel;asa lens Each lens. humans whohaveonlyone of thousandslenses,unlike compound eyes,whichconsist have bees light, ultraviolet see one colorofultraviolet. than more see to them enables of the ultraviolet range that nectar; theyperceivesomuch petals thatguidethemto flower on patterns spot to them ability Their to seeultravioletlightallows light. and ultraviolet blue, yellow, to sensitive three photoreceptorsare trichromats; however, their into nervesignals. snake’s ability to transform infrared light the for receptor responsible is this membrane; this nerve cellsandconnectedto TRPA1, isfoundin the snake’s Francisco; a neural receptor, University ofCalifornia,San Professor of Physiology at the According to David Julius, membrane thin is suspended to detect heat. a pit, each in between the eye and the nostril; oneithersideofthesnout holes distances away. easily spottheirpreyfromgreat vision thanhumans;theycan birds such aseagleshavesharper Hunting ultraviolet. blue, and green, red, see to them enable cells con four-type their nighttime animals, whichmeans lots oflight;however, theyare ours with huge pupils that capture n diin o h aiiy to ability the to addition In are bees humans, Like Pit organsareapairof ws ae ys s i as big as eyes have Owls tetrachromats; are Birds IN THE AIR IN Cuttlefish Bats when theworldisdarkforus. that theyseeclearlyatnight h ms rmral of remarkable expected themtohavethis most cephalopods. However, nobody the as itpursues prey in theocean. making it look especially alien or an spot, and its pupil is a W-shape, Cephalopod eyes have squid no blind octopus, needsimagination. cuttlefish, a of acephalopod,suchas is anobstacleintheway. echolocation sonartellsitthere as anescaperoute,although asit awindow sees lightcomingthroughpane into fly might room darkened a in bat captive what theyhear. Forexample,a can sometimesinterferewith good vision, what they see perfectly have also bats Since roost. their finding or predator, as targetingprey, locatinga the information they want; such those echoesasvisualmaps. the auditory information within process then brains Bats’ path. their in obstacles are or for looking they objects off bouncing the echoesofsoundwaves high-pitched sonar signalsandlistenfor broadcast They echolocation. on depend bats way home,andhunttheirprey, sense whenitisnighttime. is the main cue that they use to changing lightlevelsandthis animals. They aresensitiveto as good as most night-hunting well, althoughtheirvisionisnot pretty see can species bat All wrong. totally is this but blind, Cuttlefish are among are Cuttlefish Seeing throughtheeyes get to signal their tailor Bats To avoid predators, find their People assume that bats are UNDER THESEA Sharks infrared sense. not unlike the rattlesnake’s polarization information overlaid, would seeshadesofgreywiththe another,one cuttlefish at Looking may usetocommunicate. patterns on their skin that they are totallycolorblind. eye—cuttlefish an of blink the color- in striped or blood-red to beige incredible changing skills—going from have they vision thanus.Eventhough prowess, cuttlefish have blurrier can barelycomprehend. see intense polarizedlightthatwe actually information intheangleof can Cuttlefish particular trickuptheirsleeve. bet u t mr ta 1 m 18 than more to up objects water; however, despiteseeing in possible, addition toseeinginmurky as light much as eyes aredesignedtocatch abilities cannot detectcolors.Sharks’ retina cons; therefore, they visual are distinct.Sharkshaveno pupil—our retina, iris,lens,cornea,and similar toours—madeupof the Sun’s glare by filtering out filtering one orientationoflightwaves. by glare Sun’s the thatreduce wearing sunglasses experience polarized light when polarized ornot.Humansonly to detectwhetherthelightis we donothavephotoreceptors polarization. Unlikecephalopods, pair ofphotoreceptorsdetects see inshadesofgrey;another photoreceptor that lets them In spiteoftheirhunting Though sharks’ eyesare polarization produce Cuttlefish one have eyes Cuttlefish Mantis Shrimps sharp asours. away, their vision is not as the mantisshrimptohavea to comes inusefulhere,allowing ability move eacheyeindependently The environment. move their eyes, scanning the eye. to ability perceive depth with justone the them gives also but space, in strip narrow a on focusing eye the of 70% about in point space. This results in of eacheyelookatthesame eye is intriguing too; three parts for theirpolarizationvision. this arrangementisresponsible precisely positioned, tiny hairs; the lasttworowscontain very UV vision. The ommatidiaof mantis shrimp extremely good receptor intheUV, giving each rowcontainsadifferent and UVlight.Inotherwords, light visible human detect rows four first the light; polarized or certain wavelengthsoflight specialized todetecteither the magichappens. where is which mid-band, the as known ommatidia modified of theeyehassixrows and Lysiosquillids—the middle vision—such asGonodactylids this speciesofspectacular cells, andpigmentcells.In of photoreceptorcells,support elements containing a cluster thousands ofommatidia: insects madeupoftens compound eyessimilarto Mantis shrimps constantly The overall structure of the Each ommatidia row is have crabs and Shrimps for sure an exciting and highly be through other species eyes is to yet is discovered. Seeingtheworld which that to kingdom palesincomparison color perception in the animal large fieldofview. educational experience. http://news.discovery.com/ http://io9.com/ http://phys.org/ http://www.colormatters.com/ http://www.iflscience.com/ http://www.eyes-and-vision.com/ http://nautil.us/ References ht e nw about know we What 19 | SUMMER 2015 Art: The By: Maissa Azab Offspring of Light

Art, a major aspect of culture, was, is, (1922–30), which is one of the first light art beams are “bounced” to different positions and will always be born from light. Light is pieces, also incorporating kinetic art. with mirrors to create laser sculptures. made of colors, and colors are projected by Not only that, even the blocking of light, Light is the most important factor in absorbing certain wavelengths of light while aka shadow, has been employed to create the appreciation and understanding of reflecting others. Yet, that is not just it; light art, such as in shadow puppetry. Shadow architecture. The relationship between in itself has been employed to illuminate play is an old tradition that is still popular light and architecture is not just about artwork, such as stained glass that has in various cultures; it is a popular form of energy and matter; it also implies an adorned architectural landmarks since the entertainment for both children and adults emotional effect on people. The human eye 4th century to this day. in many countries around the world. perceives its form through the incidence From the caveman to modern day In modern-day live performances, and reflection of light, acquiring information artists, all have used light, shade, and color effective lighting is so important that it about the ambiance in a given place. Visual to illustrate mood and create atmosphere. typically warrants a working crew. Stage impressions are interpreted in our brains The word Chiaroscuro is Italian, roughly lighting in performance arts pieces not and put in context to create emotions that meaning “light and dark”; it was first used to only allows the audience to see what is move us in a particular way. describe a type of drawing on medium-dark happening on stage, but can also be used Lighting in a living room should be paper where the artist created both darker to set the tone, direct focus, or alter one’s warm and dimmed; the distribution of light areas with ink and lighter areas with white position in time and space. should reveal texture and color, balancing paint. Lighting design is a highly technical field the dark and clear areas. This atmosphere, Later on, the term was used for woodcut and involves manipulating luminaires to find when read by our visual system, creates a prints which essentially did the same thing, the appropriate intensity, color, direction, comfortable impression that helps us relax. using white and black together. When it focus, and position. In both theater and In opposition, lighting in a workplace comes to painting, however, Chiaroscuro dance, light plays a tremendous role in should be cool in appearance, brilliant and truly came to life in the paintings of developing the plot of performances and focused on the specific places of work. All Caravaggio during the late 16th century. evoking emotion within the audience. the room should be evenly lit to be perceived Caravaggio began to use deep, dark From concerts to theme parks, laser as wide and clean; this impression creates backgrounds for many of his paintings, and light shows entertain audiences of all ages. a dynamic mood in which different tasks are seemed to almost turn a spotlight on his The precision and strength of lasers allow developed with more energy, mental and figures; the high contrast in those paintings for light to illuminate crowds, create designs physical. made for intensely powerful and dramatic on infrastructures, and can even be seen in Light defines the architectural space; works of art. the night sky. it contributes to its perception and Throughout history, light has also played Laser light is useful in entertainment understanding while adding value to the key role in arts such as photography, because the coherent nature of laser light its function and bringing an emotional holography, and cinematography. However, allows a narrow beam to be produced, component for its users. with the invention of artificial light, many which allows the use of optical scanning to This has been a very brief overview that

| SUMMER 2015 artists began using light as the main form draw patterns or images on walls, ceilings, merely touches the surface of what light of expression, instead of just as a vehicle or other surfaces including theatrical means in art, not to mention in our entire for other forms of art. László Moholy-Nagy smoke and fog without refocusing for the life. Light is indeed indispensable for life (1895–1946), was a member of the Bauhaus differences in distance, as is common in all and every aspect of it; studying and who was influenced by Constructivism. with video projection. This inherently more unveiling its secrets is far from over, but is Light sculpture and moving sculpture are focused beam is also extremely visible, and rather just beginning. components of his Light-Space Modulator is often used as an effect; sometimes the

20 S S THE PRINCEOF S causes; and finally, optical perception by perception optical finally, and causes; objects; errors related to reflection and their objects; heavy which illusions, are images seen in heavy from reflection by sight of as straight and their causes; recognition in opticalperceptionofwhatperceived their vision, by causes, and how they are perceived; errors perceived meanings the namely: opticalperceptionasawhole; volumes tacklingsevenmaintopics, they arenotenough. though (Kitab al-Manazir), Optics” of “Book his and light, of science the to contributions few lines;theyjustshedsomelightonhis about Ibn al-Haytham and his work in these modern lightscience.Itisnoteasytowrite oflightsciencesorthefounder pioneer the scienceoflight.Heisregardedas foundation ofmoderntheories,especiallyin many foreignlanguagesandformedthe scientists. His works were translated into astronomy, in especially ophthalmologyandeyeautopsy. contributions mathematics, geometry, medicine, and major his mention to not optics; and physics of fields source foreveryonewhohasworkedinthe to thisdayaprimaryandanimportant al-Haytham’s books and researches remain pis cetss nw wrdie. Ibn worldwide”. known scientists greatest optics the even is Medieval physicist,andoneofthefew he physicist; Arab science ofhistory, said:“Heisthegreatest historian Alfred Sarton,founder of the S CE). AH/965–1040 (354–430 al-Haytham Ibn rb cetss wo hne the changed especially inlight. who world withhistheoriesandresearches, scientists, Arab significant most the of one is Alhazen, al-Haytham, knownintheWest as of modern scientific approach, the approach, to referring titles are all scientist; first the scientific of experimentalphysics,and founder modern of father ofmodernphysics,theleader The “Book of Optics” consists of seven of consists Optics” of “Book The polymath the of one is al-Haytham Ibn s o Wsen cetss Belgian scientists, Western for As b Ai lHsn b a-aa ibn al-Hasan ibn al-Hasan Ali Abu The princeofshadowandlight,the Director, ManuscriptMuseum hadow and hadow and hadow and By: Dr. MohamedSoliman hadow and

most important and influential books in books influential physics. It is also regarded as the most and important most Principles of NaturalPhilosophy”,asthe as wellIsaacNewton’s “Mathematical Ptolemy hadconcludedto. believed before it, including what Euclid and by still used to date, contradict all that was evidenced as science the proximalanddistal.Itsapplications, this of scales for more thanathousandyears;itturnedthe instilled been had that light of and theories optics the changed Optics” of “Book bodies, asdescribedbyIbnal-Haytham. in different shapedmirrorsandtransparent what results from them as image-formation deals with light reflection and refraction, and and oflights, the visionofstraightlines;whilesecond glow the with deals first sections: the two into divided is book his that physics, optics, mathematics, andpsychology. We cansay gathers Optics” of “Book tackle the physics of classical optics, so the cognitive psychology;theothervolumes theory ofvision,functionstheeye,and proper scientificapproachinresearch. a approach, follow to scientists first the Thus, of one was he experiments. geometrical scientific scientific by theories optics and light his experimental supporting an into chapters, in which he followed against thetransparencyofair. objects transparent behind from refraction h “ok f pis ws categorized, was Optics” of “Book The His mostfamousandwonderwork the discuss volumes three first The topics these divided al-Haytham Ibn L L L L ight ight ight ight value whatsoevertoanignorantlife”. knowledge togainimmortality, andgiveno ignorance and malaise. Therefore, acquire “Often knowledge, whereasthelivingdiesthrough saying: his enough thedeadremainsalivethrough remember him; after named is craters its of one that remember you when al-Haytham use acamera.WhenyoulookattheMoon, Ibn remember to to thisday. Dearreader, Iwouldurgeyou applications thatresultedfromhisstudies alive amongusthroughhisknowledgeand intoeitherprejudiceorleniency.”falling examination ofit,sothathemayavoid question himself as he performs his critical tackling itfromeveryside.Heshouldalso mind tothecoreandmarginsofitscontent, to questionallthathereads,applyinghis scientists, iflearningthetruthishisgoal, the one who investigates the writings of to thesayingsofothers. Thus, thedutyof not and argument to submits who one the yet questions what he gathered from them; but them, in trust rather the one who has his faith in them, his puts and received studies the writingsofancientsas “The quote: his seeker ofthetruthisnotonewho in reflected is approach from eachpointoftheobjecttoeye. occurs whentheraysoflightareemitted sight that stating experiment, by accurate the processofsight,whichismost alternative forthetwotheories,explaining of visualperception.Hepresentedan presented his theory of the psychology of his “Book in Optics”; inthefollowingtwoarticles,he article first his in theories and Galen. scientists such as Euclid, Ptolemy, Aristotle, previous by supported were theories Both light entered the eye in a physical form. theory, on the other hand, assumed that of lightraysfromtheeye;intromission emission the by happened sight that stated and intromission. The extramission theory on twotheories,namely:extramission based was al-Haytham Ibn before vision of and to science. experiment by proven proof, and thus considered a true addition time, that at against breakthrough a everything previously known in sciences was theory The book. his in included al-Haytham Ibn which of development optics, especiallythetheoryofvision, the in book contributory So ponder, Omenofunderstanding. The prince of shadow and light is still and philosophy al-Haytham’s Ibn two the opposed al-Haytham Ibn explanation The commonandprevailing 21 | SUMMER 2015 PRE-FINAL

By: Dr. Omar Fikry Head, Planetarium Section Planetarium Science Center

the largest number of people living on this planet”. A brilliant idea pops into your mind; you think of recording a video of them and uploading it to the Internet, so that as many people as possible can see it as these creatures want. However, when you ask them to get ready for shooting, the shortest asks: “Excuse me my friend; this idea is not as good as you think. If you try to shoot us, we will not appear in the video as our bodies resist shooting, just as they do not form shadows. You reply with more confusion: “How shall I help you talk to the planet’s You are fed up, dear reader, with You answer spontaneously: “It is the alarm inhabitants then?” The tallest answers: the visit of these weird creatures on this clock that helps me wake up on time every “Write about us buddy; write about us strange night. Now, in the pre-final episode, morning”. somewhere popular, or you can send to we—you and I—have to put an end to this “Please tell me, why is there no shadow news agencies our news and description”. whole thing. What we know is that these for you on the wall as a result of the The shortest comments on this idea three creatures know a lot about what sunlight? Or on the floor as a result of the saying: “Yes, send to news agencies and happens here on Earth; secondly, they are lamp light?” The fattest answers: “What do to Internet websites after translating this very friendly and are not to be feared; and you mean by shadow?” The tallest answers info into all languages. Then tell your thirdly, you have become accustomed to him on your behalf: “Shadows my friend friends and acquaintances to spread the their presence and talking to them, which are those dark shapes formed when light word, so that our followers will increase”. is obvious from the previous episodes. falls on an object”. The fattest replies: “Oh, You rub your forehead in amazement. Now, how will this end? The morning is I see”. Then, he continues while looking at Is this idea rational? Who would believe about to break and there will soon be light. you: “Shadows form due to many factors; me? Of course, people would assume These creatures are rational, intelligent, the most important factor is when light falls that I have gone insane; suddenly, you developed, and liberated; they come from on a solid body. However, and as we told continue: “You do not know my friends a faraway planet they promised to tell you you before, we have a special nature that and acquaintances well. People here only its name and location. After you stop the you consider supernatural on your planet”. believe physical things that they can see alarm bell, which drew their attention, you The shortest tries to interrupt, but you with their naked eyes and hear with their look at them in astonishment, especially stop him, saying: “Please, there is no ears; the age of prophecies and unseen when the sunlight enters the room and need to continue; I want to put an end to things has ended. Please, excuse me, I passes through their bodies. You ask what is happening here. I have to go to ran out of time; why do you need to talk yourself again: What is that? Is that really my work, and you did not tell me yet the to the planet’s inhabitants anyway? Is not happening? Or is it all just a dream? Light reason behind your visit, or the planet you one person enough? I am here, you know should have caused their bodies to cast came from”. The shortest answers quickly: me and I know you; I am not afraid of you | SUMMER 2015 SPRING shadows on the wall; but this is not the “We asked you to show us a place where and you spent a whole night in my room. case here. we can talk to all the planet’s inhabitants, What do you want to tell people? What is You ask the tallest: “Excuse me” … but our talk was deviated many times to the secret behind this request? Tell me… However, he asks you first: “Please let other topics. Come on, tell us about the tell me. me ask you first: What is that noise that appropriate place where we can unveil Goodbye for now until we meet again in came from this small thing beside you?” our identity and deliver our message to the next and final episode.

22 VISITORS INFO Planetarium Available Shows Stars Show 45 min. Live Show by the PSC Resident Astronomer Oasis in Space 25 min. Full-dome Show Stars of the Pharaohs 35 min. Full-dome Show Seven Wonders 30 min. Full-dome Show The Life of Trees 33 min. Full-dome Show Kaluoka’hina Countries of the Euro-Mediterranean 35 min. Full-dome Show and share the same history Mystery of the Nile and tackle today the same concerns for the 45 min. IMAX Show development of the region. Moreover, with ALEXploratorium the events unfolding in this area in the recent Cosmic Voyage years, there is a need to reinforce a stronger 35 min. IMAX Show Visitors INFO partnership with people and to support democratic transformation and institution- Alexandria, The Cradle of Discovery Zone building, with the aim to deliver sustainable Astronomy Opening Hours 22 min. Full-dome Show and inclusive growth and job creation. Sunday–Thursday: [9:30-16:00] The main objectives of the EMME Summer Tuesday: [9:30- 12:30] School are: (a) to consolidate existing Visitors INFO Saturday: [12:00-16:00] science centres in the Euro-Mediterranean • For the Planetarium daily schedule Guided Tours Schedule and Middle East, their activities and and fees, please consult the Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, programs; (b) to support the development Center’s official website: Thursday: [9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 14:30] of new science centers and communication www.bibalex.org/psc Saturday: [12:00, 14:00] projects in the region; (c) to enhance science • Kindly note that, for technical Tuesday: [9:30, 11:00] centers’ advocacy in society including but reasons, the Planetarium maintains not limited to institutions at the national and Entry Fees the right to cancel or change shows Students: EGP 5.- regional levels; (d) to exchange expertise, at any time without prior notification. Non-students: EGP 10.- practices and activities among professionals in the field; (e) to stimulate the development Listen and Discover of cooperative projects among the members For the list of shows available History of Science Museum • of the two networks. at the “Listen and Discover” and The EMME Summer School is addressing the schedule, please consult the future leaders in the field of science centers Visitors INFO Center’s official website: and museums. This is applied by providing www.bibalex.org/psc. Opening Hours professional development programs, in both Sunday–Thursday: [9:30-16:00] • For reservation, please contact the general management and field specialty skills. Saturday: [12:00-16:00] PSC Administrator, at least one week Beneficiaries are middle profile staff of existing before the desired date. science centers/museums and newcomers Guided Tours Schedule Sunday–Thursday: Show fees with projects of new science centers/ museums and activities in the field of science [10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, DVD shows: Students: EGP 2.- communication from the Euro–Mediterranean 15:30] Non-students: EGP 4.- and Middle East regions. EMME 2015 will be 3D shows: held at the Planetarium Science Center in the • Museum entry fees are included in Students: EGP 5.- Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt, all Planetarium shows tickets. Non-students: EGP 10.- during the period 5-10 September 2015. • For non-audience of the Planetarium, 4D shows: For more information, please visit the Museum entry fees are EGP 2.- Students: EGP 10.- following link: • Museum Tours are free for ticket Non-students: EGP 15.- http://www.bibalex.org/EMME2015/ holders. Illustrated by: Mohamed Khamis SeeingSeeing Why thehurry,

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Check out the “The World through their Eyes” feature , page 18